Star Trek Is Responsible For Creep Factor In Iconic 1980s Horror Film
Star Trek is credited with the creepy haircut seen on John Franklin’s kiddie cult leader Isaac Chroner in the 1984 supernatural horror Children of the Corn. The series of events that led to the child actor keeping the look began when Franklin scored a role in a commercial for the 1983 Sega video game Star Trek for the Atari 2600.
After filming the Star Trek commercial, Franklin was due on the Children of the Corn set, leaving little time for hair to grow out.
In the commercial, the announcer emphasized the game’s level of difficulty, highlighting the need for a specific joystick instructional device to play the Star Trek game. When the voiceover asks, “Is this the most challenging game in the galaxy?” the camera shifts to Franklin. Dressed in a blue Starfleet uniform with pointed ears and a Vulcan haircut, he says, “It’s inhuman.
After filming the Star Trek commercial, Franklin was due on the Children of the Corn set, leaving little time for hair to grow out. The actor detailed the unfortunate timing of the hairstyle in the documentary film Harvesting Horror: The Making of Children of the Corn. “I had just done a commercial for Star Trek Atari. I was a Vulcan,” he explained.
“So they did the fake ears, and they did the haircut with the horrible thing like this [straight bangs],” the Star Trek commercial continued. “And when I landed in Sioux City for Children of the Corn the next day, they looked at it, and they go, ‘That kinda works. It’s weird and creepy. Keep it!’ And I’m like, ‘Okay!’ You can see I’ve got these weird bangs and the V [sideburns], and it’s because I did a Vulcan the day before!”
Following the Star Trek commercial, Franklin went on to showcase his acting skills in Children of the Corn. Based on a short story of the same name by Stephen King, the movie is directed by Fritz Kiersch. The story follows a young couple, Burt (Peter Horton) and Vicky (Linda Hamilton), who find themselves stranded in a rural town in Nebraska.
Star Trek commercial star John Franklin reprised his role as Isaac in Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Return.
The town called Gatlin is eerily deserted as all the adults have been killed by the children under the influence of a young boy named Isaac (Star Trek commercial star John Franklin) and his fanatical teenage follower Malachai. The children believe in a supernatural entity called He Who Walks Behind the Rows. Due to their beliefs, the children are compelled to sacrifice adults to appease the entity.
In November 2000, Franklin made a subsequent appearance in the Star Trek universe in the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Critical Care.”
As Burt and Vicky explore the town, they discover the horrifying truth about the children’s cult and the mysterious force they worship. The couple must navigate the dangerous situation and confront the fanaticism of the children to survive. Children of the Corn received mixed reviews from critics following its release but gained a cult following over the years.
Star Trek commercial star John Franklin reprised his role as Isaac in Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Return. The 1999 film is directed by Kari Skogland and is the sixth installment in the Children of the Corn film series. The story is set years after the initial events and revolves around a young woman named Hannah Martin (Natalie Ramsey), who returns to Gatlin to discover her true identity.
In November 2000, Franklin made a subsequent appearance in the Star Trek universe in the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Critical Care.” In the story, the holographic doctor aboard the Voyager gets abducted and compelled to work in a hospital on a distant alien planet that is battling a plague.
The hospital’s operations are governed by a computer that allocates care and resources based on societal rank. Naturally, the doctor becomes morally indignant. Franklin took on the role of Kipp, a merchant who falls victim to a deceitful trading scheme orchestrated by the villainous Gar.
